OSHA Inspection: MIDDLETOWN TUBE WORKS, INC.

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $7,373 Reduced

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section 5(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to metal dust fire hazards associated with the set-up, operation, and maintenance of multiple deburring machines and associated dust collection systems:  a) On or about August 4, 2020 through November 10, 2020 in the Haven Department, the employer operated seven tube deburring machines and associated dry-type dust collection systems having history of experiencing metal dust fires thereby exposing employees to burn and inhalation hazards.

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

Feb 26, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,266 · Current $5,266

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures shall be developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.  Note: Exception: The employer need not document the required procedure for a particular machine or equipment, when all of the following elements exist: (1) The machine or equipment has no potential for stored or residual energy or reaccumulation of stored energy after shut down which could endanger employees; (2) the machine or equipment has a single energy source which can be readily identified and isolated; (3) the isolation and locking out of that energy source will completely deenergize and deactivate the machine or equipment; (4) the machine or equipment is isolated from that energy source and locked out during servicing or maintenance; (5) a single lockout device will achieve a locker-out condition; (6) the lockout device is under the exclusive control of the authorized employee performing the servicing or maintenance; (7) the servicing or maintenance does not create hazards for other employees; and (8) the employer, in utilizing this exception, has had no accidents involving the unexpected activation or reenergization of the machine or equipment during servicing or maintenance.   a) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 1 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N10225).  b) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 2 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N708).  c) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 3 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10495RB).  d) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 4 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10213/MID/BM1).  e) On or about October 30, 2020, deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 5 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10380).  f) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 6 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10341).  g) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not follow or utilize lockout tagout procedures prior to putting out fires on the deburring machines for equipment such as but not limited to the Haven 7 Simec SB300 (S/N3217).

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

Feb 26, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): Application of control. The established procedures for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) shall cover the following elements and actions and shall be done in the following sequence: 1910.147(d)(1) Preparation for shutdown. Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee shall have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy. 1910.147(d)(2) Machine or equipment shutdown. The machine or equipment shall be turned off or shut down using the procedures established for the machine or equipment. An orderly shutdown must be utilized to avoid any additional or increased hazard(s) to employees as a result of the equipment stoppage. 1910.147(d)(3) Machine or equipment isolation. All energy isolating devices that are needed to control the energy to the machine or equipment shall be physically located and operated in such a manner as to isolate the machine or equipment from the energy source(s). 1910.147(d)(4)(I) Lockout or tagout devices shall be affixed to each energy isolating device by authorized employees. 1910.147(d)(4)(ii) Lockout devices, where used, shall be affixed in a manner to that will hold the energy isolating devices in a "safe" or "off" position.   a) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 1 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N10225).  b) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 2 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N708).  c) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 3 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10495RB).  d) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 4 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10213/MID/BM1).  e) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 5 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10380).  f) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 6 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10341).  g) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees did not lockout or shutdown prior to opening up the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 7 Simec SB300 (S/N3217).

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

Feb 26, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,266 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(7)(i)(B): Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.      a) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 1 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N10225).  b) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 2 Kent Burrmaster BM02 (S/N708).  c) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 3 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10495RB).  d) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 4 Kent Burrmaster BM01 (S/N10213/MID/BM1).  e) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 5 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10380).  f) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 6 Kent Burrmaster BM05 (S/N10341).  g) On or about October 30, 2020, the employees were not trained to lockout the equipment before putting out the fires on Haven 7 Simec SB300 (S/N3217).

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

Feb 26, 2021

Penalty

Initial $12,288 · Current $6,144 Reduced

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(2): Information.  Employees shall be informed of: The requirements of this section; Any operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals are present; and, The location and availability of the written hazard communication program, including the required list(s) of hazardous chemicals, and safety data sheets required by this section.  a) On or about October 30, 2021, the employer did not ensure that employees working on the deburring machines in Havens 1-7 received training on the location of hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to Super D Powder Extinguisher (inhalation hazard, skin corrosion, eye irritant) and metal dusts from steel, aluminum, zinc, galvanized and stainless steel (combustible, inhalation injuries, burn injuries).

Issued

Jan 25, 2021

Abate by

Feb 26, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3): Training.  Employee training shall include at least: Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area (such as visual appearance or odor of hazardous chemicals when being released, etc.); The physical and health hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area; The measures employees can take to protect themselves from these hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and, The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.   a) On or about October 30, 2020 on the deburring machines located on Havens 1-7, the employer is not training employees on the specific chemical hazards of chemicals in the work area and how the employees should protect themselves from those chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used. Employees were exposed to chemicals such as but not limited to such as Super D Powder Extinguisher (inhalation hazard, skin corrosion, eye irritant) and metal dusts from steel, aluminum, zinc, galvanized steel, and stainless steel (combustible, inhalation injuries, burn injuries).